Collecting Newark water in 1905

Following the release of Bygone Lincoln DVD2 and its new revelations about the Lincoln typhoid crisis of 1905, Blow By Blow Productions is now an official supporter of Water Aid, the international charity that fights for clean water and sanitation.

Blow By Blow’s DVD — highly commended by the Institute of Videography - tells how Alderman Thomas Smith of Newark organised the supply of clean water twice a day by rail to neighbouring Lincoln where the tap water was contaminated with typhoid germs.

A hundred and forty-five people died and more than 1000 fell ill in the typhoid epidemic — and Lincoln’s economy hit rock bottom as visitors gave the city a wide berth.

The documentary shows many contemporary photographs of Lincolnians queuing with jugs and buckets to collect what they called “Newark water”. More than 100 of their letters and cards of thanks to Alderman Smith have survived and their eyewitness accounts are included in the programme.

Producer Andrew Blow has now raised more than £200 with another bucket — one he rattles at the end of each personal appearance to talk about his Bygone Lincoln work.

“When people see clips from the programme and hear my explanation of the story, they are only too pleased to throw their loose change into the bucket for Water Aid,” he says.

Eventually, after raging battles in the Council — which in those days was the water authority — Lincoln sought a new water supply to replace the river water which killed so many of its citizens.

With parliamentary approval, a new supply was created from underground sources at Elkesley in Nottinghamshire, and Lincoln’s highly visible uphill water tower was built….. a water source and infrastructure that is still serving the city today.

As the 100th anniversary of the Elkesley supply approaches in 2011, Andrew Blow is talking to educators about whether the typhoid story and the DVD material can become a school topic in both Lincoln and Newark.

Meanwhile, the next outing for the bucket is on November 27^th when Andrew addresses Waddington Local History Group.

To buy the DVD or see a clip, go to: Bygone Lincoln DVD 2

• Andrew, Water Aid Supporter number 549163, adds to the public donations with a small percentage of each DVD sold. Blow by Blow would welcome additional donations from viewers who have enjoyed the DVD.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am and is filed under Living in Lincoln. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.